FIGHT PILGRIM.

UFC 138 Post Fight Press Conference – at a glance

UFC 138 was the highest grossing event in the history of the LG Arena – generating $1.5 million

10,823 were in attendance

Bonuses Awarded:

Terry Etim – Sub of the Night

For his 17 second stoppage of Edward Faaloloto

Che Mills – Knock Out of the Night

After TKOing Chris Cope in 40 seconds flat

Brad Pickett vs Renan Barao – Fight of the Night

Barão defeated Pickett via rear naked choke at 4:09 of round 1

Quotes etc. after the jump

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The “UFC” purchases Strikeforce

Props: MMA Fighting.com’s exclusive interview with Dana white here.

The more frequently Dana cites “business as usual”, the less believable it sounds. It’s all too familiar thinking back to the purchase of Pride FC by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC in 2007. Where are they now?

Granted, in dealing with Strikeforce and their Showtime TV deal, Dana and the Fertitas won’t be getting into bed with anyone nearly as shady as the likes of the Yakuza. Aside, perhaps, from Frank Shamrock.

Some say it was the Japanese Mafia who were the catalyst behind the downfall of Japan’s premier MMA organisation, but the Pride-never-dies fanatics still protest that the UFC were just happy to eliminate their #2 competition.

Is this deja vu? Time will tell.

What’s for certain? This truly is a game changer.

What to watch? Chinese expansion will be key. DFW couldn’t hide the $ signs behind his eyes when he mentioned the viewing numbers for Zhang Tie Quan’s recent win in the UFC 127 prelims.

Zuffa cannot win Monopoly in a world swelling with grass-roots MMA promotions but they have passed Go yet again and now truly dominate the board.

—-Steven Bond